Dagnan shrugged off the short, sharp climbs on the testing three-lap route to finish in 41-39 and remove 21 seconds from the previous women's best.

The event, which is now in its 13th year, drew a record entry of 117 runners for the main race and 136 for the accompanying one-mile fun run.

James Tomlinson (37-40) finished 21 seconds clear of Mick Williams, of the promoting club, in the men's race with University of Warwick's Graham Hope a single second further back in third. Graham Stevens (38-40) was the leading veteran.

Dagnan had 56 seconds to spare over closest challenger Lucy Aphramer (Sale Harriers) in the women's section with Godiva's Rebecca Kendall third in 43-49 and clubmate Linda White (45-45) first veteran.

Fun run winner was Liam Kincaid ahead of Kaylee Edwards and Jacob Palmer.

* RECORDING a personal best at the age of 52, North-brook's Paul Kelly (33-57) was over three minutes ahead of his nearest rival in the over-50 section of the Silverstone 10km road race. Graham Patton (35-06) of Massey Ferguson was first over-60.

The warm and still conditions attracted a field of 1,100 runners for the opening round of the East Midlands Grand Prix on the motor racing circuit.